Animals In PrintThe On-Line Newsletter26 January 2011 Issue

Egg Farm Admits To 10 Counts Of Animal Cruelty

New England Egg Farm Investigation

New England Egg Farm Investigation

On Monday, June 7, 2010, as part of a landmark civil settlement stemming
from a Mercy For Animals undercover investigation, Quality Egg of New
England, one of the largest egg producers in the nation, pleaded guilty to
10 counts of cruelty to animals. The factory farm also agreed to pay over
$130,000 in fines and restitution, as well as hand over authority to the
state of Maine to conduct unannounced inspections of the factory farm for
the next five years.

The historic settlement is the result of a 2008-2009 MFA investigation at
the facility, which documented shocking cruelty to egg-laying hens at QENE's
Turner, Maine farm. Assisted by legal counsel from Compassion Over
Killing, MFA filed an extensive compliant with state officials
urging enforcement of Maine's anti-cruelty statutes. Abuses uncovered
include:

Workers and managers killing birds by grabbing their necks and
swinging them around in circles – attempts to break their necks which
often resulted in prolonged, torturous deaths for the hens.

Hens confined four to six in tiny wire cages so small they were
unable to stretch their wings, move freely or engage in other basic
behaviors.

Birds trapped in the wire of their cages or under the feeding trays
without access to food or water.

Rotting carcasses in cages with live hens still laying eggs for
human consumption.

During the time of the undercover investigation, QENE was certified by
the United Egg Producers' (UEP) voluntary animal care program. This
factory farm's admission to 10 counts of cruelty to animals is further
evidence that the UEP program fails to prevent cruelty and abuse.

Numerous veterinarians and animal welfare experts have harshly condemned
the conditions documented at QENE. Dr. Temple Grandin, perhaps the
world's leading expert on farmed-animal welfare and an advisor to the
USDA, stated "[T]he place is a filthy, disgusting mess and very poorly
maintained."

The findings of MFA's latest egg facility investigation are similar to
those documented at numerous egg farms across the country in recent
years – illustrating that animal neglect and abuse are the egg industry
standard, not the exception.

As consumers we can choose to support kindness over cruelty at each
meal. Adopting a compassionate vegan diet is one of the best actions we
can take to prevent needless animal suffering and end the conditions
documented during this investigation.